3 Days of Winter Hammock Camping, Backpacking, & Snowshoeing in the White Mountains Pemigewasset Wilderness.
This trip was sponsored by Backcountry, who gave me the opportunity to upgrade three of my essential winter backpacking gear items for this trip. A gear list can be found at the end of this post.
Viewers can get 15% off their first Backcountry order with code SINTAX77 here
https://go.magik.ly/ml/v2pr/
FTC Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission for purchases made through these links, at no additional cost to you. Individual gear selections were made by me and all opinions are my own.
For this 3 day, 2 night spring winter camping trip, I’ll be hiking what amounts to a sort of “Half Pemi Loop”. While a full pemi loop consists of the Franconia Ridge on one side and the Bondcliff ridge on the other, my plan was to use the lesser used Franconia Brook trail to go straight up the middle of the loop. This would take me above treeline right near the summit of Mt Garfield, with the option to take either the Franconia Ridge to the west, or the Bondcliffs to the east in order to return to the Lincoln Woods visitor center where I had left my Jeep.
Even during “regular” backpacking season, the White Mountains are a quite challenging area to hike due to notoriously rapid changing weather conditions and steep, rugged terrain. Add in some deep snow, ice, rain, high winds and a freeze / thaw temp range of 40° to 16° F, and things can get even more fun. I had a great time, but it was probably the toughest solo winter backpacking trip I’ve ever done.
For an easier read, downloadable GPS data & more details, here’s my full blog post:
http://www.sintax77.com/alone-in-the-pemi-wilderness-winter-camping-adventure
My 3 New Gear Choices from Backcountry:
Marmot Eclipse Hardshell Jacket https://go.magik.ly/ml/uzbu/
Fjallraven Kajka 75 Backpack https://go.magik.ly/ml/uzbv/
Solomon Toundro Pro CSWP Boot https://go.magik.ly/ml/uzbw/
Other Backpacking Gear from Backcountry used:
Kahtoola Microspikes https://go.magik.ly/ml/uzc7/
1 Liter Nalgene https://go.magik.ly/ml/uzcd/
Black Diamond Z-Poles https://go.magik.ly/ml/uzch/
MSR EVO Ascent Snow Shoes (modern version of my MSR Denali Ascent Snowshoes) https://go.magik.ly/ml/uzcl/
Optimus Fuel Bottle https://go.magik.ly/ml/v9y2/
Sea to Summit Long Handled Spork https://go.magik.ly/ml/v9xv/
Garmin Oregon 650 GPS unit https://go.magik.ly/ml/v9y0/
*For Backcountry items, my viewers can get 15% their first order with code SINTAX77
No permit is required to camp in the White Mountains National Forest, but some parking areas, such as the one I used for this trip, require a vehicle fee of $5 per day.
Trailhead Used: Lincoln Woods Visitor Center, 44°03'51.9"N 71°35'16.0"W
Trails Used, Day 1:
Lincoln Woods Trail
Franconia Brook Trail
Setup Camp along Franconia Brook Trail
I simply chose a random spot along the trail with some decent trees for my hammock. Camping is permitted 200' from trail or water.
Day 1 Mileage: 4.7 miles
Day 1 Gross Elevation Gain: 860 feet
Trails Used, Day 2:
Franconia Brook Trail.
West on Garfield Ridge Trail (Appalachian Trail South)
Spur Trail to Garfield Ridge Tentsite and shelter.
Setup camp at Garfield Ridge campsite.
Note: There is a spring nearby, but due to the conditions, I melted snow for water right at the campsite.
Day 2 Mileage: 8 miles
Day 2 Gross Elevation Gain: 2,789 feet
Trails Used, Day 3:
Garfield Ridge Trail (Appalachian Trail South)
Franconia Ridge Trail (AT South)
Osseo Trail
Lincoln Woods Trail
Day 3 Mileage: 14 miles
Day 3 Gross Elevation Gain: 4,100 feet
Grand Total Mileage: 26.6 Miles
Grand Total Gross Elevation Gain: 7,749 feet
Summits Tagged:
Mount Garfield
Mount Lafayette
Mount Lincoln
Little Haystack Mountain
Mount Liberty
Mount Flume
Cottage Vendor Gear Used:
Dutchware Xenon Two Person Tarp https://dutchwaregear.com/product/two-person-tarp/
https://youtu.be/9TEvpaU3U2s (my vid on it)
Dutchware Chameleon Hammock https://dutchwaregear.com/product/chameleon-body/
Dutchware Beetle Buckle Hammock Suspension https://dutchwaregear.com/product/beetle-buckle-complete/
Dutchware UP Booties https://dutchwaregear.com/product/up-booties/
Hammock Gear Burrow 0 Top Quilt & Incubator 0 underquilt https://hammockgear.com/premium-incubator-stock/
More links for Backpacking Gear Nerds:
Casio ProTrek FR-30 Smartwatch https://amzn.to/3dtY7Xj
Tyvek Ground Cloth https://amzn.to/2WIAGRU
Optimus Polaris Optifuel Stove https://amzn.to/2CoxjG5
Zippo Lighter https://amzn.to/2FBpikz
MalloMe Camping Cookware 1L Pot https://amzn.to/2rGSIcs
Potable Aqua Water Purification Tablets https://amzn.to/2QrP2DG
Hardshell Pants - ECWCS Gen III Trousers https://amzn.to/2WzloP4
Outdoor Vitals Adventure Jacket, Loftek version http://bit.ly/2OtNCpr
Olight Wave LED Headlamp https://amzn.to/35cbSVr
Jiva instant coffee https://amzn.to/2XMQfLx
Mountain House Backpacking Meals https://amzn.to/2GRpPz9